Does One-Stop Career Center help job seekers to find a job?Yes. While the One-Stop Career Center does not place individuals in specific jobs, we provide substantial job search assistance and help individuals develop the tools necessary to secure employment. Among the services are job readiness workshops i.e. resume writing & interviewing techniques; skills & interest assessment to help individuals identify their current skills, skills gap, career interests; one-on-one meeting with an interviewer to review current openings and receive referrals when appropriate. Job seekers can participate in onsite employer recruitments and job fairs. All customers are provided information (and provided assistance if needed) on www.Jobs4Jersey.com, which stores job opportunities and is connected to other job search engines. A new skills-based job matching tool will be available in the near future which will allow customers to post their resumes and receive job match information from employers utilizing skill sets and identifying transferable skills rather than job titles.

What are skill sets do One-Stop Career Center trainees have?All individuals trained through the One-Stop Career Center are trained in labor demand occupations in response to the needs of Mercer County employers. These range from skills associated with entry level jobs such as customer service or basic computer skills to those associated with more advanced jobs such as licensed practical nursing, IT, project management, and teaching.

OJT provides an incentive to businesses allowing employers to receive from 50 to 90% reimbursement of a new employee’s wages for a maximum amount of $4,000 for a maximum period of 6 months (dependent upon the complexity of the job and the employees’ current skills). OJT allows for the custom training of new employees thereby offsetting employer training costs, while assisting the employee to acquire the skills necessary to satisfy job requirements.

Customized Training provides funding opportunities for companies to provide training to current and/or new employees according to their specifications. Training can range from basic skills or English as a Second Language to sophisticated software applications and can be provided either by the company or an educational institution such as Mercer County Community College.

WOTC is a one-year federal program offering tax incentives for employers to hire individuals from certain targeted groups. These groups include low-income and/or public assistance individuals, ex-offenders, individuals with disabilities, Veterans, etc. Hiring employees from any of these targeted groups can earn employers a tax credit of up to $2,400 for their first year of employment.

On-site Recruitment & Job Fairs helps employers identify potential candidates by assisting in the recruiting and screening of those candidates in bulk. This can be done either at the One-Stop Career Center, employer site, or other site (MCCC, county facility, etc.). All potential candidates can be pre-qualified by the One Stop according to employer specifications. We will only refer candidates that meet those specifications saving the time and money involved in interviewing all candidates interested in available positions. Job Fair participation will expose company vacancies to a large number of potential employees at one time.

Direct Access to Qualified Workers allows employers to post their job openings for FREE and reach thousands of jobseekers on Jobs4Jersey.com. In the near future, employers will have the ability to review resumes and seek potential employees based on skill sets rather than job titles.

The One-Stop Career Center also sponsors the Professional Services Group (PSG), a self-managing group of professionals with varied backgrounds and skills. PSG members have experience in Accounting, Communications, Education, Project Management, Finance, Human Resources, IT, Marketing, Pharmaceuticals, Science, and more!

What type of training is available to job seekers?All individuals trained through the One-Stop Career Center are trained in labor demand occupations in response to the needs of Mercer County employers. These range from skills associated with entry level jobs such as customer service or basic computer skills to those associated with more advanced jobs such as licensed practical nursing, IT, project management, and teaching.

What is the cost of job training programs for job seekers?All job search related services at the One-Stop Career Center are free. However, eligibility requirements must be met for occupational training. These include currently receiving UI benefits and/or being from a low income household. Eligibility documentation must be provided for enrollment.

What programs are available to employers for their employees?Customized Training provides funding opportunities via grants for companies to provide training to current employees according to their specifications. Grant funding is provided by the NJ Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development. Training can range from basic skills or English as a Second Language to sophisticated software applications and can be provided either by the company or an educational institution such as Mercer County Community College.

What is the cost of these job training programs to employers?It depends on the program that you utilize through the One-Stop Career Center. For instance, with our on-the-job-training program, we can provide your business with 50 to 90 percent reimbursement of the employee’s wages, for up to 6 months for a maximum of $4,000. For training for existing employees, you can apply for a customized training grant, some of which have a matching requirement. On-site recruitment, job fair participation, pre-qualification of job applicants, and direct access to qualified workers are all FREE.

How do I know if I’m eligible for the One-Stop’s training program?Attend a Re-employment Orientation to find out more about our services most of which are free. They are held Monday and Wednesday at 8:30a.m. and 1:00 p.m. or Tuesday and Thursday at 8:30 a.m. Then attend a Training Orientation (to be scheduled) to learn more about occupational training opportunities.

How do I qualify for additional benefits during training?There are specific criteria that must be met in order to qualify for Additional Benefits while in Training. You must be permanently separated from your job as a result of a layoff, and have exhausted your UI benefits. The training must be in a labor demand occupation and on a full-time basis. The school must be on the approved vendor list and must be a school located in the State of New Jersey. You can receive more information by attending a Training Orientation.

How do I qualify for unemployment benefits?In order to process your claim you must call the re-employment call-in center at (732) 761-2020 and follow the instructions you are given or you can file online at www.njuifile.net. If you have not filed your claim, you can visit the One-Stop Career Center to do so as both of these services are available at the One Stop.